What to know about counterprotests to Trump's June 14 parade; Axios, June 7, 2025

 

• April Rubin, Axios; What to know about counterprotests to Trump's June 14 parade

"Protestors are taking to the streets and community hubs nationwide on June 14 in what organizers expect will be the largest single-day anti-President Trump rally since the start of the administration.

Why it matters: The widespread movement will run counter to Trump's multimillion dollar military parade in D.C.

"No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance," organizers wrote. "From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we're taking action to reject authoritarianism."

More than 100 pro-democracy advocacy groups are partnering to organize the No Kings events.

What they're saying: "Donald Trump wants tanks in the street and a made-for-TV display of dominance for his birthday," the No Kings website said.

"A spectacle meant to look like strength. But real power isn't staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else."

By the numbers: Millions of people are estimated to protest in more than 1,500 cities across all 50 states and commonwealths, organizers said. 

Context: Trump proposed a military parade on his 79th birthday and the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary.

The Army predicts it will spend $25 to $45 million on the plan, an estimate that doesn't include Secret Service or law enforcement.

D.C. is not known for having military parades, but Trump has been vying for one since his first term."

We are witnessing the first stages of a Trump police state; The Guardian, June 9, 2025

Robert Reich , The Guardian; We are witnessing the first stages of a Trump police state

"Trump and his regime are rapidly creating such an infrastructure, in five steps:

(1) declaring an emergency on the basis of a so-called “rebellion”, “insurrection”, or “invasion”;

(2) using that “emergency” to justify bringing in federal agents with a monopoly on the use of force (Ice, the FBI, DEA, and the national guard) against civilians inside the country;

(3) allowing those militarized agents to make dragnet abductions and warrantless arrests, and detain people without due process;

(4) creating additional prison space and detention camps for those detained, and

(5) eventually, as the situation escalates, declaring martial law.

We are not at martial law yet, thankfully. But once in place, the infrastructure of a police state can build on itself.

Those who are given authority over aspects of it – the internal militia, dragnets, detention camps, and martial law – seek other opportunities to invoke their authority.

As civilian control gives way to military control, the nation splits into those who are most vulnerable to it and those who support it. The dictatorship entrenches itself by fomenting fear and anger on both sides.

Right now, our major bulwarks against Trump’s police state are the federal courts and broad-based peaceful protests – such as the one that many of us will engage in this coming Saturday 14 June, on the No Kings Day of Action.

It is imperative that we remain peaceful, that we demonstrate our resolve to combat this tyranny but do so non-violently, and that we let America know about the emerging infrastructure of Trump’s police state and the importance of resisting it.

These are frightening and depressing times. But remember: although it takes one authoritarian to establish a police state, it takes just 3.5% of a population to topple him and end it."